Rail or bar bender



520 mm EEAFTSMAN;

Ftpaob 0R Div'n 14.,

M. H. BROWN. RAIL OR BAR BENDER.

* N0,520,876. Patented June 5, 1894. j 7 Q R r, 1 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAIL 0R BAR BENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,87 6, dated June 5,1894.

Application filed September 19, 1893- Serial No, 485.796. (No model.)

To-aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MORRIS H. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Yonkers, Westchester county, State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Rail or Bar Benders, which isfully set forth in the following specification.

, The present invention relates more particularly to that type of railor bar bender in which the rails are held by hooks or jaws at theextremities of a triangular frame, and the pressure, for curving,bending or straightenin g the rail, is applied by an eccentric worked bymeans of a lever, this eccentric acting upon one end of a slidingextensible ram or plunger, whose opposite end bears upon the rail. Railbenders of this type are now in common use, and the object of thepresent invention is to improve their construction in such a manner asto render them more eiiicient in action, as will be hereinafterexplained. In using railbenders of this type, the handle is raised to aposltion nearly perpendicular, the ram extended until it bears againstthe rail to be bent, and then thelever is forced down, the weight of twoor more men being usually employed for this operation. In applyingpressure the handle of the lever swings toward the rail, the effectbeing that the force exerted tends not only to push the ramlongitudinally (which is the result desired) but also to raise the endof the frame in which the eccentric shaft is journaled. When the forceexerted 1S considerable, it is often necessary to employ one or two mento hold down this end of the frame and counteract its tendency to tiltupward. One object of the present invention is to obtain a betterapplication of the power, so that this may be wholly expended upon thebending of the rail, and to obviate the employment of hands to preventthe tilting of the frame, and the consequent wrenching or twisting ofthe rail. This object is accomplished in a very simple but effectualmanner, by reversing the position of the eccentric upon its shaft, sothat the lever, instead of turning toward the rail in applying pressurethereto, turns in the opposite direction.

In using rail-benders having a two-part extensible ram and an eccentricand lover movement, the pressure upon the rail is relaxed when the leveris thrown back, and while the ram is being extended. preparatory toanother bending operation. This relaxation of pressure is attended withdisadvantageous results. The rail, after each bond. springs back,attempting to regain its original position, and the amount of thisreturn is lost motion, to be taken up again on the next thrust of theram. Furthermore, the repeated bending of the rail back and forth hasthe effect of weakening the fiber, which it is very desirable to avoid.For these reasons it is considered important to maintain a steadypressure upon the rail during the entire series of operations by whichit is bent to the ultimate curvature desired. The present inventionincludes means whereby this constant pressure is mai ntained while thelever is swung back, and the pressure of the eccentric removed.

The invention will be fully understood from the followingdescriptiomreference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a plan view partly in section, and Fig. 2 is a side View,one of the side bars being broken away.

In its general features the device shown is of known construction. Ithas the side bars A, carrying at one end the jaws B, against which therail 0 rests, and converging toward their opposite ends, in which theeccentric-shaft D is journaled. These bars are held together andstiffened by a secondary frame E, secured thereto by bolts e. The ramis, as heretofore, composed of two parts F F, coupled by an adjustingsleeveG, the construction of these parts having been somewhat modifiedas will be presently explained. The upper or outer end of the part F ispivoted to two links H by means of a strong bolt I. The opposite ends ofthese links inclose eccentrics d, (one of which is shown in Fig. 2) fromwhich eccentrics motion is communicated to the ram.

K represents the lever for operating shaft D, the lever being providedwith the usual means for applying a wooden handle L.

As will be seen from Fig. 2 the eccentric d is placed on the oppositeside of its shaft from lever K, so that in order to advance the ram Ftoward the rail, the lever K is forced the movement of the ram, that is,away from the-rail. This pressure, therefore, cannot have the eifect oftilting the frame, (which in use'rests upon the ground,) out of itshorizontal position. On the other hand, it will be readily understoodthat, when the lever worked in the opposite direction, as has been thecase heretofore, the great pressure exerted on the end of the handle Ltended to turn the entire device upon the axis of the rail as a center,requiring'often the force of several men at the end of shaft D to holdthe frame horizontal. M is a bar or dog pivoted at m to one side of theframe, and at its free end adapted to engage a series of notches orteeth formed in the sideof the ram or plunger F. When the pressure hasbeen applied, and the rail bent as far as possible with one movement ofthe lever K, dog M is swung into engagement with the ram F holding it inhard contact with the rail while the lever .is swung back. Heretofore,the adjusting coupling sleeve G has been threaded at each end, and theextremities of the parts F F of the ram were provided with right andleft-handed screw threads respectively; but in the construction shownthe end of the part F only is threaded. This change further contributesto the strength of the ram and somewhat facilitates its construction.

. In addition to the advantages already pointed out, of maintaining thepressure upon the rail during the reversal of the leverand adjustment ofthe ram for another bend, it

A may be observed that it is usual to insert between the rail and theend of the ram a steel block, shaped to fit the flange of the rail,which block frequently fell out of place when ing witnesses..

the ram was withdrawn. The contact pressure of the'ram nowholds-theblock in place until the bending is completed.

Other means for maintaining the constant pressure of the ram mayobviously be employed in place of the dog M,but the construction shownis regarded as the best practical embodiment of the invention.

1. 'In a rail or bar bender, the combination the rail, and the ramslidingly supportedbewith the frame having jaws or hooks to hold 7pressure to the ram, and an operating lever attached to the eccentricshaft on'the side opposite tothe eccentric so that it moves away fromthe ram in operating the-latter, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the extensible ram composed of two parts, and acoupling sle'eve' engaging by means of screw threads with one of thesaid parts, the operating-eccentric and lever, and means for maintainingthe pressure of the ram when the lever is reversed, substantiallyas'described.

3. The combination of the triangular frame,

the extensible ram sliding therein, the oper- V atin g eccentricconnected with the end of said ram, and a dog or holdingbar pivoted toone side of the triangular frame and extending. alongside of said ram soasfto sustain the pressure thereof longitu dinally, substantially.

as described.

In testimony whereof. I have signed this specification in thepresence'of two subscrib- MORRIS H. BROWN.

Witnesses: l

THOS. B. INNESS, E. S. BLUNT.

